We Need to Talk About Michelle Obama's Book Tour Outfits

When Michelle Obama lived in the White House, her style choices often challenged ideas of what a First Lady should dress like. She championed young, American designers, broke stale norms about what is appropriate — her choice to go sleeveless in her official portrait caused an unnecessary backlash — and wore things from relatable brands like J.Crew and GAP. As she grew to become a thought-leader in the world on numerous topics like public health and uplifting the youth, her style became part of her advocacy.

Now, almost exactly two years since she moved out of the White House, she's on a book tour for her memoir "Becoming" and her fashion choices are still speaking volumes. During a discussion about her book at the Barclays Center in New York City, Michelle explained that she knew what she was doing all along. "I did know that my clothes were making a statement, I knew that was the case," she told the audience. "So we decided why don’t we use this platform to uplift some young new designers who normally wouldn’t get this kind of attention, because you can change their lives, which is one of the reasons why we chose Jason Wu for my inaugural gown."

For this particular appearance, the former First Lady wore a gorgeous yellow Balenciaga wrap dress that she paired with — pause for emphasis — $4,000 metallic thigh-high boots. While yes, it was a really gorgeous outfit worthy of praise, for many people it was more than that. Seeing the First Lady embrace a trend that is often not seen as "professional" or even "appropriate" for women to wear is another example of how she continues to use her style to push boundaries. In her book, she discussed how these boundaries were even more restrictive for her as a black woman. "As a black woman, too, I knew I’d be criticized if I was perceived as being showy and high-end, and I’d also be criticized if I was too casual," she explained.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 19: Former first lady Michelle Obama (R) discusses her book "Becoming" with Sarah Jessica Parker at Barclays Center on December 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)Dia Dipasupil

Earlier in her tour, she continued the important work of highlighting young designers when she appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show wearing a suit by CFDA Fashion Fund winner Pyer Moss. The brand's designer and founder Kerby Jean-Raymond created the label in 2013 to meld activism with high-fashion. His clothes often challenge social and cultural moments in a way that sparks necessary discussion.

Of course, there is a downside to having your wardrobe be a large part of your public persona. In "Becoming", Michelle writes that she often felt her "clothes mattered more to people than anything I had to say." However, she learned to use it in the way she does to this day and make it an integral part of the story she's telling.